How to Add a Bank Account to TikTok

Ready to turn your TikTok views into real cash? Connecting your bank account is the most important step in monetizing your content, but the process can feel confusing. This guide cuts through the noise and gives you a clear path to getting your financial information set up correctly. We’ll cover how to add a payout method for every TikTok monetization feature, what information you need to have ready, and how to fix common problems you might encounter along the way.

Why You Need to Link a Bank Account to TikTok

Before getting into the step-by-step instructions, it helps to understand why this is a necessary step. Simply put, TikTok needs a verified and secure way to send you the money you earn. Unlike a simple peer-to-peer payment app, TikTok is a global company that has to handle official payment processing, tax documentation, and security protocols. Linking a bank account or another verified payout service like PayPal is how they ensure the money gets to the right person - you.

There are several ways to earn money directly on TikTok, and nearly all of them require a linked payout method. Let's briefly cover the primary ones:

• The Creativity Program Beta: Previously known as the Creator Fund, this program pays eligible creators for views on videos that are over one minute long. Payouts are based on a formula that considers qualified views and RPM (revenue per thousand views).
• LIVE Gifts and Diamonds: When you're live on TikTok, viewers can send you virtual gifts. These gifts are converted into "Diamonds," which you can then redeem for real money. This is a popular way for creators with active communities to generate income.
• TikTok Shop for Creator (Affiliate): As a creator, you can promote products sold on TikTok Shop. When a viewer makes a purchase through your unique affiliate link or a tagged product in your video, you earn a commission.
• TikTok Shop for Seller: If you have your own products to sell, you can set up a storefront directly on the app. All sales revenue, minus TikTok’s fees, is deposited into your linked bank account.

For each of these income streams, the funds you earn accumulate in your TikTok "Balance." To move that money from TikTok to your personal finances, you must set an official withdrawal method.

Get Ready: What You’ll Need Before You Start

Nothing is more frustrating than starting a process only to realize you’re missing a key piece of information. To make this as smooth as possible, gather everything you need ahead of time. It will only take a few minutes and will save you a major headache later.

Here’s your pre-flight checklist:

• Your Legal Name and Address: This must match the name on your bank account and your government-issued ID. Nicknames or handles won't work here.
• Tax Information: For U.S.-based creators, this means your Social Security Number (SSN) for individuals or an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for businesses. TikTok is legally required to collect this information for tax reporting purposes (Form 1099). You'll typically fill out a digital W-9 form within the app. For other regions, be prepared to provide equivalent national tax identification.
• Your Banking Details: This is the core of the process.
  • For a U.S. bank account, you'll need your Account Number and your Routing Number.
  • For international accounts, you may need your IBAN (International Bank Account Number) and a SWIFT/BIC code.
  You can find this information by logging into your online banking portal, looking at a physical check, or calling your bank.
• Your Phone: TikTok will likely use two-factor authentication (2FA) by sending a code to your phone to confirm it's really you making these changes. Make sure you have access to the phone number associated with your account.
• An Eligible TikTok Account: Remember, you can only set up a payout method once you've been accepted into a monetization program. For the Creativity Program Beta, for instance, you need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, among other requirements.

Once you have all this info compiled, you're ready to get started.

How to Add a Payout Method: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process for linking a bank account is generally centralized under the "Balance" section of your TikTok account. However, you might find yourself navigating there from slightly different starting points depending on whether you're cashing out from gifts, the Creativity Program, or something else. We'll start with the most common path.

For the Creativity Program Beta & LIVE Gifts

This process applies to the two most common income sources for individual creators. The funds you earn from both these programs pool into the same central balance for withdrawal.

1. Open TikTok and go to your Profile. Tap the icon of yourself in the bottom-right corner.
2. Access the Settings Menu. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner of your screen.
3. Select “Settings and privacy.” This will open up a list of all your account management options.
4. Tap on “Balance.” This is your financial hub within TikTok. You’ll see a summary of your current coin balance (for tipping others) and the amount of money you've earned that is available to withdraw.
5. Tap on Your Earnings. You should see a section summarizing your earnings, likely labeled "Gifts Revenue," "Creativity Program Rewards," or something similar. Tap on this section to view the details.
6. Initiate the Withdrawal. There will be a prominent "Withdraw" button. Once you’ve met the minimum withdrawal threshold (which can vary by region but is often between $10 and $50), this button will be active. Tap it.
7. Add a New Payout Method. If this is your first time, you’ll be prompted to “Add a new withdrawal method.” Tap this option.
8. Choose “Bank Transfer.” TikTok often provides multiple options, including PayPal, Payoneer, or Zelle, depending on your location. Select the option for a direct bank transfer.
9. Enter Your Bank Account Information. This is the most important step. A form will appear asking for all the details you gathered earlier.
   • Full Name (as it appears on your account)
   • Bank Name
   • Account Number
   • Routing Number (or SWIFT/IBAN for non-US)
   Triple-check every single digit. A simple typo here can cause your transfer to fail or be sent to the wrong account.
10. Verify Your Identity & Tax Info. Before you can finalize the link, TikTok will require you to verify your identity. This usually involves filling out a digital W-9 tax form (for U.S. creators). Enter your legal name, address, and SSN/EIN.
11. Confirm and Save. After submitting your information, you may need to complete a final verification step via text or email. Once confirmed, your bank account will be saved as your primary withdrawal method.

The first withdrawal often takes a little longer as the information gets verified, so be patient. Subsequent transfers are usually faster.

For TikTok Shop (Creators and Sellers)

If you're earning money through TikTok Shop, either as an affiliate (Creator) or by selling your own goods (Seller), the process is slightly different. These payouts are managed through the TikTok Shop hub, not your general account "Balance."

For TikTok Shop Creators (Affiliate Commissions)

1. Go to your Profile >, Settings and privacy.
2. Select "TikTok Shop."
3. Inside the Creator hub, look for your commissions or earnings section. There will be an option to set up your payout account, which leads to a page asking for your bank and tax information.
4. Follow the prompts to enter your account details, just as described in the section above.

For TikTok Shop Sellers

Sellers manage their finances through the dedicated TikTok Shop Seller Center, which can be accessed on a desktop or via the Seller Center app.

1. Log in to the TikTok Shop Seller Center.
2. Navigate to the “Finance” or “Payments” tab on the left-hand menu.
3. Look for an option called “payment settings” or “account settings.”
4. Here, you'll find a section to add and manage your bank account information for receiving payouts from your sales.
5. You will need to enter your business's bank information and verify it. The verification process for sellers can be more rigorous and may take a few business days to complete.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues and How to Solve Them

Even with careful steps, sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are some of the most common issues creators run into when adding a bank account and how to handle them.

Issue: My transfer failed or was returned.

Solution: The number one cause of this is a typo in your bank information. Go back to your 'Balance' >, 'Withdraw' settings and carefully edit your payout method. Double-check your account and routing numbers against your bank statement. If they are correct, contact your bank to ensure there are no blocks on incoming transfers from companies like ByteDance (TikTok's parent company).

Issue: The app won't accept my tax information.

Solution: This usually happens when the name and tax ID (SSN/EIN) don't match the IRS database. Make sure you are using your full legal name, not an alias, and that the numbers are entered correctly. If you've recently changed your name, the update might not have registered with the IRS yet, which can cause this verification to fail.

Issue: I can't find the 'Withdraw' button or it's grayed out.

Solution: This almost always means you haven't met the minimum payout threshold. In your "Balance" section, TikTok will clearly state the minimum amount you need before you can make a withdrawal (e.g., "$50"). You'll have to wait until your earnings reach that level.

Issue: How long does it take to get my money?

Solution: This isn't an issue, but a common question. Be prepared to wait. After you initiate a withdrawal, it can take 1-3 business days for TikTok to process the payment on their end. From there, it typically takes another 3-5 business days for the funds to actually appear in your bank account, depending on your bank's processing times. Be patient, especially with your first transfer.

Final Thoughts

Linking your bank account is the exciting last step in turning your creativity and hard work on TikTok into a source of income. By gathering your documents ahead of time and carefully following the step-by-step process for your particular monetization method, you can set yourself up for smooth and secure payouts.

Once your payment method is verified, the real focus returns to your content strategy. It’s all about staying consistent, planning your posts, and engaging with your community. That’s precisely why we created Postbase. After spending years in the industry, wrestling with clunky tools, we knew social media management shouldn’t be so complicated. Our visual calendar makes it easy to schedule your TikToks, Reels, and other content for the entire month, our system ensures your posts publish reliably every time, and our unified inbox streamlines all your comments and DMs so you never miss a meaningful connection.